TOMORROW

Gala Recap

So last night was the Writers Community Gala, where 20 BSU undergrads got a chance to read a single piece of poetry or prose less than 500 words in front of an audience and a group of faculty judges.

I cannot be more pleased with the results. We had a turnout of about 85 people. I was really impressed by pretty much all of the readers. Also, it was nice to see some new faces/voices read.

The two main changes we made this year seemed to work out really well. Instead of using Student Government Association money to buy prizes, our plan was to ask for donations from faculty and then use club funds to buy the rest. Our faculty came through in a big way, donating enough prizes that not only did we not have to buy anything, we had enough to give all 20 participants a prize just for competing and have a free raffle as an end-of-semester thank you to the audience. The other change was a heavily enforced 500 word limit per reader, which helped the reading go quickly and smoothly.

Congratulations are in order to Spencer McNelly and Lindsey LaVal, who got 3rd and 2nd place respectively. Of course, big congrats to Layne Ransom who won the whole thing. All three readers got a sweet stack of books that others should be jealous of. All three will be asked to participate in a reading in the Spring, so be on the lookout for that.

Elysia, my fellow WC officer, did a great job hosting beside me. I'm also proud to say that I had few awkward moments and slept well last night.

Big thanks are in order to the judges for donating their time and talents: Cathy Day, Rai Peterson, Jared Sexton, and Audrey Brown. Also, thanks to the donators, who went above and beyond in providing prizes for this event: Jill Christman, Mark Neely, Sean Lovelace, Todd McKinney, Andrew Scott, Victoria Barrett, Peter Davis, and Cathy Day. Big thanks to Todd and Elysia again for helping me out so much putting this together. I'm also hugely thankful for all the readers and audience members who have made this such a successful semester.

REALLY I COULDNT BE MORE GLAD THIS IS OVER AND I MEAN THAT IN A GREAT GREAT WAY LIKE IT WAS SO GOOD AND LETS BASK IN ITS GOODNESS

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOME THINGS SO I HAVE A BLOG

- Just got back from the reading with Jeremy and Lindsey. Layne hosted. What a killer trio of pals right there. Layne did funny intros, like mine was about Mac from It's Always Sunny... and people think I look like him (OKAY I CONCEDE THAT I DO), and people cracked up, like YEAH HE DOES TOTALLY. It was Lindsey's first reading, and she did a nice job, with a couple truly well-written stories. I think this was probably my best reading, definitely in terms of pieces, also my longest, also my Mom's first time to see me read. My mom knows I curse and has a vague idea of how I talk in my poems, but I was worried about her seeing me do that in public. She was a sport and took me to Greek's and it was good (GRILLED CHICKEN PIZZA SHELL). Jeremy ruled too, with some stuff I haven't read or don't remember and some cool new stuff and some fun stuff from the chapbook. Sold some books which is always nice. Village Green Records (TRAVIS SERIOUSLY RULES) was so sweet to host us, and I saw a few people buy things which is awesome. The crowd was not huge, but tidy and sweet and comfy and beautiful and friends. When people who don't "do" poetry come, it's a nice feeling. When professors get babysitters to come, it's a nice feeling. When friends keep coming to these events, it's a nice feeling. Overall, I think it was a radical time, though I wish there was an after-party.

- If I were still 16 year old Tyler, I would be rockin' out to this stuff right now. Taking Back Sunday TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS LINEUP OMG DUDEZ. 22 year old Tyler listened once.

- Todd and I were talking about Steve Orlen today, poet and teacher, and then I find out he died. It's got me shakyweird because Todd just introduced me to him. Tony Hoagland, Orlen's former student, had a nice essay over at H_NGM_N about Orlen.

- I'm making a Christmas list, per my two sets of parents' instructions. Orlen's Selected Poems is definitely on the list now. Also, Matt Hart's Wolf Face, some more Dean Young books, and Stevens' Collected on high on the book list. Also, I'd like a subscription to Pank I think. They do good work. I'm also really wanting some new jeans. I have like three pairs that I dig and they are wearing out. Also, my awesome comfy warm socks have holes, so they are on the list. I don't think this matters.

- What do you want me to blog about?

VGR VGR VGR

Tomorrow night, I'm reading for The Jackalope Wars Chapbook Release Reading with Jeremy Bauer and Lindsey P LaVal at Village Green Records, Muncie's coolawesome indie record store. I've seen a lot of cool bands there over the past what six years, and I'm pretty nervous of reading there (I read outside there at the end of last school year). OH YEAH MY MOM IS COMING ISN'T THAT SWEET?

Here are some awesome bands I've been exposed to because of VGR:

State Champion: Oh I might have passed up seeing them again last night in Indy, but yes, they are great. Start and stop southern rock n' roll fun. One of the best live sets I've seen inside VGR.

Sleeping Bag: Saw these dudes play inside VGR last night, instead of the State Champion show in Indy. Real fun, energetic set.

No Age: Obviously didn't see them at VGR, but I have bought both No Age albums there. GOOD GOOD STUFF.

In The Face Of War: I didn't see them first at VGR, but the best shows I've ever seen them play have been outside on the VGR lawn: darkness, loudness, shoutness.

Caddywhompus: For such an experimental, exciting band, they play together so well and with the BSU campus as a backdrop, it was a really cool thing seeing this two-piece jam.

I'm missing lots and lots of cool bands.

I hope I can do this history justice a little bit please.